After many months, and making almost every first-timer mistake imaginable, I have finally completed writing my first novel.
In some ways, it’s almost hard for me to believe that I could have made it to this point. I guess somewhere deep down, there was always a part of me that hesitated, doubted that I was even capable of doing something like this. It hits even harder when I think that, following an incredibly volatile and chaotic part of my life, which has lasted roughly a year now, it was all finally worth it. I now have something tangible which reminds me that, even in the face of utter hardship, simply sticking to your guns and wits will see you through a great number of challenges.
That and no small amount of faith.
Now at the moment, I don’t want to give away too much about the premise of my book, as it’s something I want to be sure is as good as I can make before disseminating any further details. For the time being I will only elaborate by saying that it’s Swords-and-Sorcery, inspired by the likes of Fritz Leiber, Robert E. Howard, Jack Vance, and a number of Seinen Manga which I’ve enjoyed over the years. I am also just beginning to look for a cover artist, and I’ll be posting more details here soon on my Twitter for any who are interested.
But I digress. Truly, I’ve been lucky to receive some excellent writing advice, much of which has come from the very best. Not only have friends and family given me some helpful tips with moving forward and staying persistent with my writing, but even intellectual tidbits given by Razörfist on his weekly streams - not to mention a brief back-and-forth I had with The Critical Drinker - where both instrumental in helping me determine what I should be focused on, along with what should simply remain in the ether.
I’m not saying that either of these folks is necessary for you to complete your own project. Instead, I hope to illustrate that you’ll find good advice no matter where you go, and sometimes by the most unexpected of people.
If in your own creative endeavors, you might be feeling doubtful or unsure of yourself, or maybe it seems that your project is going nowhere, please believe me when I say that it’s best to dispel these thoughts. Always stay calm and make sure to pace yourself. But no matter what, you should always finish what you start; progress is progress, and even a little is still worth more than none at all.
I would also like to take this moment to describe my future plans as a writer, along with what I have in mind for this newsletter. I am sincerely grateful for all of the support I’ve received over the last several months. This is my first time in really establishing a social media presence, and all the help I’ve received by others has truly been inspirational.
As for projects, I’m excited to be adding more short stories here as I go, many of which will likely be in the same setting as The Doom That Came to Ardossia. I am also hoping to start book two in my series here shortly. (Better to strike the iron while it’s still hot!) Reviews and recommendations are another part of the plan, and lastly, I hope to continue shedding light on what my contemporaries are working on. More and more of us are steadily coming into the Iron Age, and for those who just have an honest story they want to tell, I hope to help them along that path.
As for the time being, I wish each of you a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving! And best of luck in all your creative endeavors!
For some reason I always pause at > 90% for weeks, it has happened on every single book and book 4 is at that point now. The first time there was a reason behind it, but the other times there was no flood damage, I just wouldn't finish what I started.
Congratulations. Even if it's a shorter narrative at 40k words, putting a novel together can sometimes feel like the most grueling endeavor a person could undertake. The fact that our stories are often intensely personal to us can add to that stress, so it's important to take a step back and acknowledge your accomplishments. I look forward to reading it.